Mint comes in many different varieties, each of which is easy to maintain and lasts for many years if cared for properly. The plant is fairly invasive, however, and may compete with surrounding plants for resources if allowed to grow without restriction. In order to grow mint, you either need to plant it in containers or find a method of restricting the growth of its roots below ground. Mint is also a tasty, versatile herb that can spice up a fruit salad, lamb or fish dish, or even a glass of iced tea or a cocktail. If you want to know how to grow mint, see Step 1 to get started.

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Steps

Part 1 of 4: Acquiring the Mint

1

Take a cutting from a pre-existing mint plant. Mint is difficult to grow from seed, and it is virtually impossible for some varieties, like peppermint. Cut a sprig a centimeter above a junction to allow new branches to grow in its place. The sprig does not need to have many leaves, and almost any sprig will do. Place the sprig in a glass of water. Within a week, small white roots should appear under water. Wait a few more days to another week to allow the roots to develop into a decent length. Add water to the glass as necessary.

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2

Purchase a mint seedling or small mint plant. You can find mint seedlings at most nurseries and garden stores. There are many varieties of mint, such as sweet mint, chocolate mint, spearmint, lemon mint, apple mint, and peppermint. Spearmint is most commonly used for cooking. Mint is a fast-growing, fast-spreading plant and is perfect for one of your first attempts at growing plants.

Part 2 of 4: Planting the Mint

1

Choose the best time for planting the mint. Ideally, you should plant your mint in the spring, or in the fall if you're in a climate that is free of frost. Though mint is a resilient plant, it's best to start growing it under optimal conditions.

2

Transplant the seedling or rooted sprig into a container. Potting mint is the most popular way to grow it because you can easily keep it in check this way, as well as keeping it close to your kitchen so you can use it frequently. Mint spreads rapidly, and its roots have a tendency to choke out the roots of other plants. As a result, it is often best to plant mint in a container without other plants. Use a 12-to-16-inch wide pot for 1 plant. You should add a water-retaining polymer to the potting soil so that it stays moist and doesn't dry up.

Choose a location with adequate sunlight. When you plant your mint or place down your potted mint plant, you'll need to chose an area that receives morning sun and partial afternoon shade. You want the plant to get some light without drying it out completely. Mint grows best in deep, moist soil, so you want to keep it that way. You can even place your mint pot indoors, on a windowsill, as long as it's in a location that will get enough sunlight.

5

If you're planting it in the ground, then use a damp area with full sun or partial shade. The best conditions for growing mint in the ground require a fertile soil with a pH that is between 6.0 and 7.0. Though it can grow on its own without a problem, a little bit of fertilizer every few weeks won't hurt it. Make sure that the soil is moist by placing some mulch around the plant to protect the roots.

6

If you're planting your mint in a flower bed, submerge it in a container first. If you go this route, you should submerge your mint in a container, such as a pot or a mesh bag that is at least 5 inches deep. You should leave the rim of the container above ground level so that the plant's root system will be contained. If you don't do this, your mint will take over your garden and your lawn like a weed.

Part 3 of 4: Caring for the Mint

1

Water your mint frequently for the first year. Test the soil with your finger to determine how dry it is. Keep the soil damp, but don't soak it. If your mint is in direct sun, water it more frequently. Check on it frequently to make sure that it gets adequate water, but not too much.

2

Keep the top of the plant trimmed. Doing so prevents it from growing too tall and encourages it to grow more leaves to the side. This also creates a better harvest. When you check on your plant to see if it needs water, see if the plant has gotten too tall.

3

Trim the mint's flower buds to keep the plant compact. A mint plant's small flowers will typically bloom from June to September. You should trim the buds before they have a chance to open so the plant doesn't grow out of control. Pinching off the plant's flower buds as they appear will also extend your plant's harvesting season.

4

Split your plant every two or three years. After a few years, your mint will match the size of the container, causing its roots to become cramped. De-pot it and carefully split apart the mint into several plants. Lifting and replanting your mint every 2-3 or even 3-4 years will help keep the scent and the flavor of the mint nice and strong.

5

Treat your mint with a fungicide spray if it gets infected by rust. Rust, a fungus that creates orange-brown patches on the undersides of a plant's leaves, is one of the few diseases that mint is susceptible to.

6

Watch out for pests and diseases. Your plant may fall victim to diseases such as verticillium wilt or mint anthracnose and it may be infested with insects such as flea beetles, root borers, spider mites, or root weevils. This is not a likely occurrence, however, since the strong odor of mint wards off most insects and other pests. Just provide good air circulation and soil that is well-drained to keep your plants healthy. If you notice any insects, pray them off with a garden hose.

You can also wash your leaves with insecticidal soap.

Make sure to look for pests under the leaves of the plants, too. This is a place where they like to hide.

Part 4 of 4: Harvesting Your Mint

1

Harvest fresh green leaves as desired from the late spring through the early autumn. Never harvest more than 1/3 of the leaves at once and allow the plant to regrow before harvesting more. You can just harvest as much mint as you need at a time.

If you want to air-dry your mint, then you should hang the stems upside down in small bundles or just spread them on a small tray. Once the stems and the leaves are brittle, you can remove the leaves and place them in airtight containers.

2

Harvest as much mint as possible before the frost each year. The roots will survive the frost and regrow the following spring, but the above-ground plant matter will die off. Protect your mint roots by covering the plants with a layer of mulch before winter. In order to harvest the leaves, you should pinch off the stems. If you have a larger harvest, then wait until right before the plant blooms and cut the whole plant just above the first or the second set of leaves.

Typically, you can harvest a larger harvest of mint about three times a season.

3

Use your mint. There are endless uses for mint, and you can do whatever you like with it. However, there are some typical uses of mint that you should be aware of. Here are some great ways to use it:

Serve it as a compliment to fish, chicken, lamb, or another protein dish.

Use it to spice up veggies such as carrots, peas, and potatoes.

Spice up salads such as fruit salads, fig and radish salads, or walnut and goat cheese salads.

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Create a barrier if you want to plant your mint in your garden. Sink a bottomless bucket into the soil and plant the roots inside. This prevents them from spreading too far.

Warnings

Keep your potted mint from draping down into your garden or into other containers filled with other plants. Healthy shoots of mint can take root in soil, even if those shoots are still connected to a mother plant.

Harvest the mint leaves before the plant flowers because that is the time when the leaves are in the best condition.